Body fat scales

phreak

I'm contemplating getting some to gauge whether my new diet is working or not. I've read a guide on them here http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/bodyfatscales.html and the jist seems to be that the figures aren't all that accurate, but if you're comparing like with like each time then it can still be useful.

There seem to be a wide range of scales on the market, with various prices attached. Does anyone have any experience of using them?

Oh, this is the device I was looking at http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000BB0BVG/r ... B000BB0BVG

BigJimmyB

Try this lot:

http://www.tanita.co.uk/index.php?id=4

I've got an old set of scales with a body fat monitor, but they don't do it any more.

jgsi

phreak wrote:

I'm contemplating getting some to gauge whether my new diet is working or not. I've read a guide on them here http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/bodyfatscales.html and the jist seems to be that the figures aren't all that accurate, but if you're comparing like with like each time then it can still be useful.

There seem to be a wide range of scales on the market, with various prices attached. Does anyone have any experience of using them?

Oh, this is the device I was looking at http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000BB0BVG/r ... B000BB0BVG

In the same boat as me.. have been using the Tanita BC545 for well over 2 years.
I think its accuracy is more or less there in body fat calcs and as you use it it saves the data each time which is useful....
It is worthwhile getting the AccuMeasure http://tinyurl.com/36qgont as a comparision....
for me the results line up
I try to use at the same point in the day to get some kind of stability in the readouts as the body goes thru many changes within the day that

phreak

So worth the investment you'd say?

jgsi

phreak wrote:

So worth the investment you'd say?

For me it is... I can see how I change from a Xmas blob into a lean mean racing fail a few months later.

SteveR_100Milers

+1 Tanita. Not sure about absolute accuracy, but as a reference very useful, although I only measure and record my weight

fish156

-1 Tanita

The weight measurement is very good, but I only use the body fat reading to help me pick the lottery numbers - it appears to be very inconsistent. (It hasn't helped me to win the lottery yet, hence the "-1".)

simon_e

phreak wrote:

So worth the investment you'd say?

No.

Even if it can give you a number it it will be meaningless. It can't tell you how fit you are or give any idea of how you should change/improve your training. Spend the money on something useful.

phreak

Simon E wrote:

phreak wrote:

So worth the investment you'd say?

No.

Even if it can give you a number it it will be meaningless. It can't tell you how fit you are or give any idea of how you should change/improve your training. Spend the money on something useful.

I'm not after ways to change my training, quite happy with that. I'll be climbing the Gavia and Mortirolo this summer so have been looking at ways of getting my diet in shape so I can be as lean as possible, hence the scales.

simon_e

phreak wrote:

I'll be climbing the Gavia and Mortirolo this summer so have been looking at ways of getting my diet in shape so I can be as lean as possible, hence the scales.

Ride more, eat less.

Fitness will count more than weight, including on those big climbs. A normal scales can show if you've lost weight anyway.

phreak

Well yes, obviously Weight matters a lot though. For instance I did some back of an envelope calculation and worked out that by outputting the same power as I do for an hour, but with 3kg less body weight I would climb the Mortirolo around 10 minutes faster than I would at my current weight. It works out at something like 10watts extra. Not something to be discounted.

meanredspider

Yes - I'm in the "waste of time" camp and find my belt/jeans a better gauge of fat. I believe the problem with fat scales is that they rely on resistance which has far too many variables not least of all state of hydration. I honestly believe you'd be better measuring your waist as it's also been linked in a few recent studies to health (in particular susceptibility to type 2 diabetes) and is where most males lay down excess fat

mclarent

I have a set of Tanita scales, they're ok.

They have 2 settings, normal and Athlete, makes about 10% difference to the body fat % for me (athlete takes into account increased muscle mass or something, basically gives you a lower reading).

I can't comment on accuracy (how could I??), but they are consistent at least.

phreak

The muscle thing is kinda what I'm interested in really. Ever since my swimming days I've been quite broad up top and since cycling my legs are a fair bit bigger than they were. Wondering if my weight gain is muscle or cake

Squillinossett

Electronic scales are not that good really, most BBrs do not use then for that reason. I always used Acu-calipers, these are what nealry everyone I went to the gym with used. Far better and much cheaper.

http://monstersupplements.com/store/p/6 ... ipers.html

simon_e

phreak wrote:

Well yes, obviously Weight matters a lot though. For instance I did some back of an envelope calculation and worked out that by outputting the same power as I do for an hour, but with 3kg less body weight I would climb the Mortirolo around 10 minutes faster than I would at my current weight. It works out at something like 10watts extra. Not something to be discounted.

IIRC 10 watts is about the same as the difference between a new chain and a worn one.

I still don't understand why a fat scales wil help you. And why worry about 10 minutes? It will hurt the same either way. It seems you are just wanting someone to say "Yeah, go and buy one". In which case just go and buy one, but don't say I didn't warn you

phreak

Well I bought one yesterday so it's kinda moot now

ut_och_cykla

phreak wrote:

Well yes, obviously Weight matters a lot though. For instance I did some back of an envelope calculation and worked out that by outputting the same power as I do for an hour, but with 3kg less body weight I would climb the Mortirolo around 10 minutes faster than I would at my current weight. It works out at something like 10watts extra. Not something to be discounted.

Are you sure it would make so much time? Whilst weight shouldn't be discounted for the sake of argument....
Using this site http://www.noping.net/english/, an typical Alpine 8% climb over 15 km would take an hour at 75 kg and 58 mins 4 secs at 72 kilos . This might be of importance to you or a pro cyclist but to be honest less than 2 minutes is neither here nor there for many people and an increase in 10 W at threshhold should be within the range of doable for many. (Says I as I take another slice of cake.... )

SteveR_100Milers

No one is claiming the Tanita scales to be accurate in calculation of body fat, water, muscle etc etc, but at least there is a number that can be tracked. I'd like to think that the measurement of weight is accurate, which is why I bought them. I too use the trouser belt and bedroom mirror approach to monitoring weightloss, but there is nothing quite like quantitative data!

phreak

ut_och_cykla wrote:

phreak wrote:

Well yes, obviously Weight matters a lot though. For instance I did some back of an envelope calculation and worked out that by outputting the same power as I do for an hour, but with 3kg less body weight I would climb the Mortirolo around 10 minutes faster than I would at my current weight. It works out at something like 10watts extra. Not something to be discounted.

Are you sure it would make so much time? Whilst weight shouldn't be discounted for the sake of argument....
Using this site http://www.noping.net/english/, an typical Alpine 8% climb over 15 km would take an hour at 75 kg and 58 mins 4 secs at 72 kilos . This might be of importance to you or a pro cyclist but to be honest less than 2 minutes is neither here nor there for many people and an increase in 10 W at threshhold should be within the range of doable for many. (Says I as I take another slice of cake.... )

I can't quite remember where I got the 10 minute figure from now. One of the online calculators. Suffice to say I'm aiming for a 10 watt increase and a bit of weight loss.

amaferanga

phreak wrote:

ut_och_cykla wrote:

phreak wrote:

Well yes, obviously Weight matters a lot though. For instance I did some back of an envelope calculation and worked out that by outputting the same power as I do for an hour, but with 3kg less body weight I would climb the Mortirolo around 10 minutes faster than I would at my current weight. It works out at something like 10watts extra. Not something to be discounted.

Are you sure it would make so much time? Whilst weight shouldn't be discounted for the sake of argument....
Using this site http://www.noping.net/english/, an typical Alpine 8% climb over 15 km would take an hour at 75 kg and 58 mins 4 secs at 72 kilos . This might be of importance to you or a pro cyclist but to be honest less than 2 minutes is neither here nor there for many people and an increase in 10 W at threshhold should be within the range of doable for many. (Says I as I take another slice of cake.... )

I can't quite remember where I got the 10 minute figure from now. One of the online calculators. Suffice to say I'm aiming for a 10 watt increase and a bit of weight loss.

Unless you're already highly trained then 10W should be pretty trivial.

P_Tucker

SteveR_100Milers wrote:

No one is claiming the Tanita scales to be accurate in calculation of body fat, water, muscle etc etc, but at least there is a number that can be tracked!

You could write down what time the sun rises every day, that's a number that can be tracked.

jgsi

P_Tucker wrote:

SteveR_100Milers wrote:

No one is claiming the Tanita scales to be accurate in calculation of body fat, water, muscle etc etc, but at least there is a number that can be tracked!

You could write down what time the sun rises every day, that's a number that can be tracked.

Of course racing gods neednt worry about their body fat% unless their qualified coach wanted to know it... maybe he/she would then choose the total immersion test and give us all a break.

If you do disagree with it maybe gives us all a valid reason for dismissing it.

bhickey

I bought a fancy pair of Tanita scales for about £80 and took the hammer to them in frustration about six mths later - they were completely useless (the fat/water/weight readings seemed to be produced by an inbuilt random number generator). I've reverted to standing in front of a full length mirror in my y-fronts once a fortnight to monitor progress - far simpler, cheaper, effective and reliable (albeit a bit of a scary sight after the excesses of the festive period).

P_Tucker

bhickey wrote:

I bought a fancy pair of Tanita scales for about £80 and took the hammer to them in frustration about six mths later - they were completely useless (the fat/water/weight readings seemed to be produced by an inbuilt random number generator). I've reverted to standing in front of a full length mirror in my y-fronts once a fortnight to monitor progress - far simpler, cheaper, effective and reliable (albeit a bit of a scary sight after the excesses of the festive period).

This seems like a valid reason to dismiss such things.

dennisn

bhickey wrote:

I bought a fancy pair of Tanita scales for about £80 and took the hammer to them in frustration about six mths later - they were completely useless (the fat/water/weight readings seemed to be produced by an inbuilt random number generator). I've reverted to standing in front of a full length mirror in my y-fronts once a fortnight to monitor progress - far simpler, cheaper, effective and reliable (albeit a bit of a scary sight after the excesses of the festive period).

+1... ya got that right about "completely useless". Seems to be just another thing to solve a problem that doesn't exist. One born every minute. That sort of thing.
I "completely agree" with your theory of standing in front of a mirror. They are hardly ever inaccurate and always tell the truth(if you are able to accept it).

bcss

while I agree these kind of scales are completely useless in measuring body fat, the concept itself is not useless as assumed in some of the answers.

It s an important indication of your health both on the upper and lower end, while it might not be of concern for most of us, having too little fat might get as unhealthy as too much.

Think it s an important data point to measure your progress as such I would look for a "professional" measurment service (ie calipers, which is cheap and quick)

here s a good summary of the different methods http://new-fitness.com/body_fat_analyzing.html